Why does the equality hold for a symmetric matrix $A$ with $A = A^{T}$?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the properties of symmetric matrices, specifically those defined as $A \in \mathbb{R}^{n \times n}$ with $A = A^{T}$. It establishes that for such matrices, the norm $||A||$ is equal to the supremum of the inner product $|\langle x, Ax \rangle|$ when $||x||_2=1$, leading to the conclusion that $\max \{ |\lambda|, |\mu| \} \leq ||A||$. The proof involves demonstrating the relationship between the squared norms and the inner products, ultimately confirming the equality holds for symmetric matrices.

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evinda
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Hello! (Wave)For $A \in \mathbb{R}^{n \times n}$ with $A=A^{T}$ we set:

$$\lambda:= \max \{ \langle x, A x \rangle: ||x||_2=1\} \\ \mu:= \min \{ \langle x,A x \rangle: ||x||_2=1\}$$

Then for $x \in S_{||\cdot||_{2}}$ we have:

$$\langle x, Ax \rangle \leq |\langle x, A x \rangle| \leq ||x||_2 ||Ax||_2 \leq ||A|| ||x||_2^2=||A||$$

i.e. $\sup_{||x||_2=1} ||Ax||_2 \leq ||A||$

and since $\sup_{||x||_2=1} |\langle x, Ax \rangle|= \max \{ |\lambda|, |\mu|\}$ we have that $\max \{ |\lambda|, |\mu|\} \leq ||A||$.

  • Why does it hold that $\sup_{||x||_2=1} |\langle x, Ax \rangle|= \max \{ |\lambda|, |\mu|\}$ ?

Theorem

If $A \in \mathbb{R}^{n \times n}$ symmetric matrix then

$$||A||= \sup \{ ||Ax||_2: ||x||_2=1\}= \sup \{ |\langle x, Ax \rangle|: ||x||_2=1\}= \max \{ |\lambda|, |\mu|\}$$

Proof:

It remains to show that $||A|| \leq \sup \{ |\langle x, Ax \rangle|: ||x||_2=1\}:=a$

$$||Ax||_2^2=\frac{1}{4} (4 ||Ax||_2^2)=\frac{1}{4}(4 \langle Ax, Ax \rangle)=\frac{1}{4} ( 2 \langle Ax,Ax \rangle+2 \langle A^2 x, x \rangle) \overset{\text{ for an arbritary } \gamma>0}{=} \frac{1}{4}(\langle A(\gamma x+ \gamma^{-1} Ax), \gamma x+ \gamma^{-1} Ax \rangle- \langle A(\gamma x- \gamma^{-1}Ax), \gamma x-\gamma^{-1}Ax) \leq \frac{1}{4}(a ||\gamma x+ \gamma^{-1}Ax||^2+a ||\gamma x-\gamma^{-1}Ax||^2) \leq \frac{a}{2}(||x||_2^2 \gamma^2 + ||Ax||_2^2 \frac{1}{\gamma^2})$$

We set $f(\gamma)=||x||_2^2 \gamma^2 + ||Ax||_2^2 \frac{1}{\gamma^2})$ and check where $f$ achieves its minimum.

  • Could you explain me why the following equality holds?

$$\frac{1}{4} ( 2 \langle Ax,Ax \rangle+2 \langle A^2 x, x \rangle) \overset{\text{ for an arbritary } \gamma>0}{=} \frac{1}{4}(\langle A(\gamma x+ \gamma^{-1} Ax), \gamma x+ \gamma^{-1} Ax \rangle- \langle A(\gamma x- \gamma^{-1}Ax), \gamma x-\gamma^{-1}Ax) $$
 
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Did you try to expand the right hand side of the wanted equality?
 
girdav said:
Did you try to expand the right hand side of the wanted equality?

Yes, I did. I saw that the equality holds. (Nod)
 

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